The biggest enjoyment my flock gets in the morning is not me saying “good morning”, or the kisses they get, nor the “did everyone sleep well” speech. It’s their undying love of breakfast! A mix of strawberry yogurt, cut up fruit, 2 teaspoons of the famous “CHOP” and (drum roll please…)…Birdie Bread Mini-Muffins. My flock goes absolutely nuts over these things. Constantine tends to have a couple with his tea in the a.m. as well…when the birds are in a sharing mood. The recipe is really easy and I promised a few people I would post it.

I personally use all organic ingredients because that is just my preference for my birds, but you can generally find all this at your local grocery store. This recipe is great for making into a loaf as well. I like the mini-muffin pan because it is easier for me to serve it up to the flock. One mini-muffin in each bowl is a perfect size for everyone all the way around. A small side note…I never cook with Teflon pots or pans when cooking for my parrots. I have separate cookware for them consisting of a couple of pots, a pan a baking sheet and my mini-muffin pan.

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Stir together muffin mix, oats and cinnamon in a large bowl and set aside. Put baby food, broccoli, mashed bananas and peanut butter in a blender and blend briefly (just until blended). Add carrots and cheese to dry mix and mix until the carrots and cheese are lightly coated with the dry mix. Add wet mix to the dry mix and fold together lightly with a wooden spoon JUST until mixed…Don’t over mix!

In a greased mini-muffin pan (I like to use the organic baking spray), fill each muffin cup with a tablespoon of muffin mixture. Bake for 15 minutes. Pop them out of the pan and cool on baking racks.

These are great because you can freeze them too and just take out what you need for the next day. Pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up and your good to go. Vary the recipe too if you like! You can use mixed frozen veggies instead of the carrots and broccoli. Instead of the baby food, try some canned pumpkin or mashed sweet potatoes or squash. Mix and match with your birds favorite foods. They are even a great gift to a fellow avian friend when you go to visit.

In the end, your flock will love you more than they do already…I know mine do! Bon appetite!

When I set out on this little adventure of building The Imaginarium I knew it was going to be a huge undertaking. My father is an old man and really doesn’t use the downstairs of his house. In fact he doesn’t even like to bend or climb stairs so it’s undeniably ridiculous that he built a 2-story house. However, it benefited me and my flock. While still in the beginning stages, I have cleaned up the cement slab and all that was “stuck” to it. Some green slimy stuff and threw all the old decrepit furniture that he was saving (for god knows what) to the curb side for pick-up. Now I have begun setting the stage for TheImaginarium.

The Imaginarium - After clean up

I chose the name, The Imaginarium, instead of simply saying “My Aviary” for the simple reason that not only do my birds need an Aviary, but I need some peace as well. Here I will be able to relax, reflect, be alone or with friends, dream, escape and simply imagine. I’ve added a few little friends to the landscaping. There is “Diva: The Pink Gecko” for some character and of course the faithful “St. Francis” to watch over the birds and I while we are in The Imaginarium. I imagined the most beautiful sanctuary complete with music, wind chimes, lush green trees, beautiful colorful flowers, and a small vegetable garden with herbs, strawberries, tomatoes and a few others I have yet to pick out. It is a work in progress for sure.

St. Francis: To watch over my flock

Diva: The Pink Gecko

So needless to say, my 2 non-flyers are enjoying the scenery for the moment until the fencing is put up. I’ve already started sitting out there with Chloe and Simba and imagining the day away. Simba and Chloe have become really good friends. They dance and sing together to the playlist I made for Angels Of Flight Productions. It has all the music from all of our videos on it and a few Jimmy Buffet songs as well as Kenny Chesney’s “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” which has quickly adapted as the motto for hanging out at The Imaginarium. There’s a big wooden sign going up on the wall with that motto on it.

Chloe & Simba: Enjoying the late afternoon

Chloe & Simba: Hanging out after a bath

I am anxiously awaiting the actual fence to go up. The materials should be here sometime this week. My contractor assures me that it will be finished by next weekend. I can’t wait to let Kacey and Zazu out in it. I love watching them hang upside down on their perches and do all the comical Macaw stuff. I can only imagine what there going to do with a 20′ x 12′ x 11.5′ Imaginarium. The possibilities are totally endless. I’ll be blogging most of the construction and doing some video too. But for now…relax, pour yourself a “Green Parrot” cocktail, kick off your flip flops and imagine…